Grain growers will soon get a firsthand look at a new mobile tool to help them make real-time, informed decisions on their fields at the University of Kentucky Wheat Science Group’s annual winter meeting Jan. 6.

Brian McCornack and Wendy Johnson, associate professor and postdoctoral scholar, respectively at Kansas State University, will present the My Fields Workshop unveiling their new web-based application by the same name. The technology allows producers of corn, soybeans and wheat to send, receive and manage field-level data and to make informed decisions. It will allow producers to manage their fields as economical and effective integrated pest management systems and provide an environmental and biological monitoring system to predict pest incidence, estimate economic losses, and action thresholds for insects and inputs. The app will also link various diagnostic tools and management strategies for arthropods, diseases and weeds. Growers will be able to customize the application to fit their needs including such choices as field location and variety used.

If possible, meeting participants should bring a fully charged mobile device with them to participate in the interactive presentation.

In addition to the hands-on workshop, participants will hear from UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment specialists about their latest research.  Discussion topics include using rainfall forecasts for optimal fertilizer application, U.S. and world outlook for wheat, understanding the connection between Fusarium head blight and Deoxynivalenol, a mycotoxin in wheat, and variety differences in Fusarium susceptibility.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. CST at the Christian County Extension office. The meeting will run from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. with lunch provided by the Kentucky Small Grain Growers’ Association.

The meeting is approved for two general and two specific continuing education hours for pesticide applicators in categories 1A, 4, 10 and 12. It is also approved for continuing education units for Certified Crop Advisers including 1.5 in nutrient management, 0.5 in crop management and three in integrated pest management.